Research methods for illegal drug use in hidden populations: analytic report of a European expert meeting (29-30 october 1992; Rotterdam)

FRANÇAIS :
Des experts et la Communauté Européenne ont confronté leur méthodologies de recherche concernant les usagers de drogue, tant du point de vue épidémiologique que judiciaire ou ethnographique. Des recommandations ont été formulées pour l'avenir: clarification des critères méthodologiques comme les définitions, la fiabilité et la validité des tests et les procédures d’échantillonnage. Le problème des toxicomanes, multifactoriel, nécessite une approche multidisciplinaire. De plus, les données doivent être interprétées dans leur contexte culturel.
ENGLISH:
Experts from most European Community member states participated and contributed state-of-the-art presentations on various research methodologies. Attention was paid to the more quantitatively oriented research methods, such as surveys using questionnaires, interviews, and routine statistics from treatment and criminal justice as well as to more ethnographically oriented research methodologies. Recommandations were formulated for the near future: research methodology needs to meet all the classical methodological criteria, such as clear definitions, tests on reliability and validity, and clear sampling procedures. Interfacing methods is the key phrase. A multifactorial problem, such as illicit drug use and related problems, should be approached in a multidisciplinary way; that is, the integration of different research methodologies. Data always need to be interpreted in terms of cultural context. A similar framework should enhance studies with respect to comparison of drug policies and their consequences in different cities or countries. (From the authors' abstract)